7 Min
Zuletzt aktualisiert am 29.04.2026
What was once thrown away as waste is now bought by athletes for a lot of money. And I'm sure you've heard of it before! I'm talking about whey protein.
What sounds almost like a brand is actually just a specific type of protein. But what exactly is whey protein? Is whey protein really beneficial, and what are its potential drawbacks? We'll find out together in the next few minutes!
Your knowledge on the go: What is whey protein?
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Whey protein (German: Molkenprotein) is used as By-product obtained during cheese production and then processed into protein powder.
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There are various Types of whey protein powder – the most well-known: whey concentrate and isolate.
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Advantages These include the high biological value of the whey protein, the complete amino acid profile, and more.
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Disadvantages: Not everyone tolerates whey or is not a fan for other reasons: As an alternative, there are other animal and plant-based protein types.
Whey Protein – Explanation
So, what is whey protein? Whey protein (in German, by the way, it's much less cool: Whey protein) is one of the Main forms of protein, which occur naturally in milk. The other large, well-known group is caseins. Whey protein is therefore naturally present in cow's milk and dairy products.
And what exactly is whey protein powder? Easy! Whey protein is also sold as protein powder and is one of the best-known protein powders! However, not everyone is thrilled: there are more and more critical voices And many active sports enthusiasts are looking for alternatives. We'll discuss this later so you can form your own opinion!
Where does whey protein powder come from?
Now let's get this straight: What sounds super fancy used to be Waste product. Whey is made from a By-product in cheese production won: the whey. whey It is a watery liquid that forms when milk curdles – that is, when the cheese separates from the milk. It consists mostly of milk sugar, or lactose. However, it also contains other substances. Nutrients such as whey protein or
Some time ago, whey was considered a useless by-product and was either thrown away or fed to animals.
Then technology and gyms came into our lives and everything changed. Okay, it's not that dramatic.
The food industry However, they saw potential in this liquid and the proteins it contains, and began to utilize these proteins. With today's technology, this whey protein can be easily extracted and ends up as protein powder in your shake.
Knowing what whey protein really is and how it's produced gives you a completely different perspective on the product and its often quite high price, right?
What are the benefits of whey protein?
We now know what whey protein is. But what exactly does protein powder do? And what is whey protein good for? Basically, an adequate supply of protein is important, as it contributes to... Increase and maintenance of muscle mass Protein powder contributes to protein intake. However, it can often be difficult to consume enough protein in everyday life. Therefore, people who are particularly active in sports often use protein powder to provide their bodies with additional protein.
Let's briefly put aside the question "What is whey protein?". Other protein-rich products like peanut butter or plant-based protein bars can also help with your protein intake. So you don't necessarily need whey for that!
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Different types of whey
Isolate, concentrate – what's that?! There are different types of whey. These differ mainly in their... composition and in their Protein content.
There's no single best type. It depends on what your Goals, your Preferences and No-gos Depending on your needs, one type of protein might be better suited to you than another. You might also find that whey protein doesn't fit you and your lifestyle. More on that later!
Let's first take a look at the different types:
Whey protein concentrate
What is whey protein concentrate? Whey concentrate consists of approximately 70-80% protein, so it has a fairly high protein content. Besides protein, it also contains some carbohydrates such as lactose.
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Advantage: affordable price
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Disadvantage: It still contains lactose, so it is not necessarily suitable for lactose-intolerant people.
Whey Protein Isolat
The very terms ion exchange process or microfiltration indicate that the production of this form is far more complex. But it's worth the effort: the protein content, at 85-95%, is significantly higher than that of the concentrate. This is because various filtration methods remove other substances, such as lactose, from the product. What remains is primarily protein.
Therefore, protein isolate is often used in higher-priced protein powders. It is particularly popular with people who are lactose intolerant, as it contains almost no lactose.
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Advantage: Almost lactose-free, therefore suitable for most lactose-intolerant people, very high protein content
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Disadvantage: can taste bitter
Whey protein hydrolysate
Hydrolysate, with a protein content of 80-90%, is roughly on par with isolate. A particularly advantageous feature of this form is that the proteins are already broken down into peptides and amino acids, the building blocks of proteins. In contrast, most other proteins must first be digested, and it takes some time before the body can utilize the amino acids.
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Advantage: high protein content, small building blocks
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Disadvantage: very expensive, usually bitter taste
There is also fermented whey protein – but that is less important here.
Quality & Effect
What is so special about whey protein?
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Whey protein has a very high biological value. This value shows how efficiently the human body can use the respective protein to build its own protein. A very important factor here is:
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Whey has a good amino acid profile and contains all essential amino acids (EAAs).These are amino acids that the body cannot produce itself and therefore must obtain through food: isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, threonine, tryptophan, valine and (for infants) histidine.
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Furthermore, whey (especially the hydrolysate) contains, due to the Processing proteins into smaller fragments. That's music to the ears of sports enthusiasts!
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Last but not least: The Protein content The composition of the different types of whey is very high, making it a good source of protein in a protein-rich diet.
Now that you know what whey protein is, you probably want to know its advantages and disadvantages. Here's our overview:
Advantages of whey
Whey has numerous advantages that make it one of the most well-known protein powders:
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higher Protein content with comparatively little fat and carbohydrates
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complete Amino acid profile
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height biological value
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The proteins are already broken down by the processing. divided into small building blocks
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Depending on the type: lactose-free and therefore suitable for lactose-intolerant people
Disadvantages of whey
Of course, whey also has some disadvantages that should not be ignored when explaining what whey protein is:
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For Lactose intolerant and people who I am intolerant to milk, Whey is only suitable with reservations (and in some cases not at all).
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Depending on processing and purity, many products taste different. bitter.
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To counteract the bitterness, often Sweeteners or other sweeteners are used to make the products taste better. However, many people want to avoid such substances.
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Whey is for vegan living persons not suitable, because it is derived from milk.
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Independent tests have shown that the Quality The quality of whey products varies from different suppliers. It's advisable to stick to trustworthy, reputable brands or consider alternatives.
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Whey protein powders often contain numerous Additives and fillers.
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Especially in sensitive individuals such as those with lactose intolerance, symptoms may occur after consumption. Side effects how abdominal pain occurs.
Alternatives
However, more and more people are looking for alternatives to whey – for a variety of reasons: they cannot tolerate whey, want to switch to vegan products, or simply prefer other types of protein.
Animal protein sources:
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casein
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Egg protein
Plant-based protein sources:
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Soy protein
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Rice protein
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pea protein
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Hemp protein
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Flaxseed protein
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Especially with plant-based proteins, there are also Multicomponent proteins popular, so a mixture of different protein types.The advantage of this? The often incomplete amino acid profile of plant proteins can be supplemented, so that a complete amino acid profile This is also how it's created. Furthermore, it allows you to take advantage of the benefits of different protein types.
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And let's not forget: "Real" protein-rich foods. It doesn't always have to be a powder. Foods like legumes, meat, and fish also contain protein. many proteins. So always pay attention to one balanced diet!
What is the best type of protein?
All of the proteins mentioned here have advantages and disadvantages. Therefore, it's impossible to say definitively which type of protein is best. Depending on your diet, taste, and needs, one protein or another may be most suitable for you. Why not try out different types?
Conclusion: What is whey protein?
For some, it's the best protein; for others, it's a red flag. Opinions on whey vary widely. And that's perfectly fine—after all, there are so many protein options that everyone is sure to find the right product for them. What's always important, however, is being well-informed and knowing what whey protein actually is. And after reading this article, you'll definitely know. That puts you way ahead of many of your gym buddies—many of whom can only answer the question "What is whey protein?" with a shrug.
literature & Sources
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Newar, V. (2022). A Review on Whey Protein: Benefits, Myths and Facts. International Journal of Innovative Science and Research Technology, 7(10).
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Saba Zafar (2024). Nutritional and Functional Importance of Whey Protein in Human Health and Food Applications. Applied Agriculture Sciences, 2(1).
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Shankar, JR & Bansal, GK (2013). A Study on Health Benefits of Whey Proteins. International Journal of Advanced Biotechnology and Research, 4(1).
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Consumer Advice Centre (2025). Whey protein: What you should know about whey protein.
Do you have any questions? Then feel free to write me a message. Mail - I look forward to hearing from you! :)
The information shared in this article does not replace individual medical or nutritional advice.
